Senior Custodian

University of California; Santa Cruz (CA); On-site; USD 79,085,000 - 83,928,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Job summary

UC Santa Cruz is seeking a Senior Custodian to maintain interior and exterior common areas at the 2120 Delaware Apartment Complex, performing advanced custodial duties and supporting basic grounds tasks. This full‑time on‑site role operates under APPA Level 2, with shift days Mon‑Fri and a budgeted salary of $27.60–$29.29 per hour, plus full benefits.

Candidates must have custodial equipment experience and the ability to work with minimal supervision while upholding safety and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Experience using custodial equipment and cleaning chemicals.
• Knowledge of safe use of custodial equipment and chemicals.
• Knowledge of building safety procedures.
• Knowledge of green cleaning practices and safety procedures for handling waste.
• Ability to prioritize workload to meet daily schedule.
• Ability to communicate and follow oral and written instructions.

Responsibilities

• Perform routine and advanced custodial services in lobbies, hallways, restrooms, elevators, stairwells, and shared amenity spaces.
• Maintain floors through vacuuming, sweeping, or damp mopping.
• Clean and disinfect high‑touch surfaces such as door handles and elevator panels.
• Keep restrooms sanitary and stocked with supplies.
• Maintain exterior walkways, plazas, and building entries.
• Monitor irrigation issues and identify repairs.
• Perform routine trash and recycling collection and ensure proper waste segregation.
• Assist with event setup and breakdown in common areas.

Skills

Work with minimal supervision

Effective communication

Adaptability to changing priorities

Sustainability concepts

Tools

Vacuum cleaners

Floor scrubbers

Polishers

Mops

Industrial carpet cleaners

Personal protective equipment

Cleaning chemicals handling

Job description

ABOUT UC SANTA CRUZ

UC Santa Cruz is a public university like no other in California, combining the experience of a small, liberal arts college with the depth and rigor of a major research university. It's known as an unconventional place where innovation and experimentation is part of the campus's DNA. That playful, bold spirit still thrives today, all on a campus renowned as among the most beautiful in the world.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Real Estate and Contract Services, a unit of Financial Affairs, supports the UC Santa Cruz academic vision by managing and overseeing all real property acquisitions and divestitures, ground leasing, leases, licenses, easements and real property assets for the campus. This unit also assists campus units with non-research grant proposal development, submittals, post-award processes and grant management. Under the direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor of Finance Operations and Administrative Services & Campus Controller and the Director of Real Estate and Contract Services, the unit ensures all business contract and real property transactions and external grant projects support the primary mission of the campus as well as its strategic priorities and objectives.

JOB SUMMARY

The Senior Custodian is responsible for maintaining all interior and exterior common areas at the 2120 Delaware Apartment Complex in a clean, orderly, and well-presented condition. Working to APPA Level 2 (Ordinary Tidiness) standards, this role performs advanced custodial duties, supports basic grounds maintenance, and ensures proper waste handling and disposal across the property. The position may provide informal direction to other custodial staff and serves as a key point of quality control for daily operations.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

Budgeted Salary:

$27.60 - $29.29/hour. Salary commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

Under California law, the University of California, Santa Cruz is required to post a reasonable estimate of the compensation for this role. The salary shown above is the budgeted amount the University reasonably expects to pay and the salary extended should not exceed this posted amount.

Benefits Level Eligibility:

Full benefits

Schedule Information:

• Full-time, Fixed
• Percentage of Time: 100%, 40 Hours per Week
• Days of the Week: Mon-Fri
• Shift Includes: Day

Job End Date:

None

Union Representation:

SX Union

Job Code Classification:

005116 (CUSTODIAN SR)

Travel:

Never or Rarely

JOB DUTIES

70% - Custodial & Maintenance

• Perform routine and advanced custodial services in lobbies, hallways, restrooms, elevators, stairwells, and shared amenity spaces.
• Maintain floors through vacuuming, sweeping, or damp mopping, addressing visible debris or buildup through regular cleaning cycles.
• Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces such as door handles, elevator panels, and railings. Clean walls, doors, windows, counters, furniture, etc...
• Keep restrooms in a sanitary condition, ensuring supplies are stocked and no persistent odors exist.
• Maintain exterior walkways, plazas, and building entries through sweeping, litter removal, and periodic washing.
• Monitor landscaped areas and identify irrigation issues (e.g., broken sprinkler heads or leaks) that need repair.
• Perform routine trash and recycling collection from interior common areas and maintain the cleanliness of trash rooms.
• Ensure proper segregation of waste streams (trash, recycling, and compost) and transport bins to designated collection points for scheduled pickups.
• Assist with event setup and breakdown in common areas, ensuring spaces are ready for use.

5% - Inspections & Equipment

• Conduct routine inspections of assigned areas to ensure compliance with APPA Level 2 expectations, identifying deficiencies or escalating issues as needed.
• Operate custodial equipment safely and effectively, including vacuums, and floor machines.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience in the use of custodial equipment and tools such as vacuum cleaners, powered floor polishers, industrial carpet cleaners, mops, carts, buckets, personal protective equipment, etc.
• Knowledge of proper and safe use of custodial equipment, chemicals, tools, etc.
• Knowledge of procedures related to building safety.
• Knowledge of green cleaning practices and safety procedures for handling waste.
• Skill in prioritizing workload to meet daily schedule.
• Ability to effectively communicate and follow oral and written instructions, read manuals, signs, and labels.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain cleanliness in alignment with the Association of Physical Plant Administrators 2 (APPA 2).
• Ability to accommodate changing priorities and complete tasks despite intermittent interruptions.
• Ability to carry and operate technology, including tablets and cell phones along with the use of programs and applications.
• Ability to safeguard keys issued, which are necessary for assigned areas.
• Ability to incorporate the concepts of sustainability into daily work efforts.
• Ability to promote the UCSC Principles of Community through collaboration, clear communication, and a focus on diversity and belonging.
• Ability to adapt to change, support organizational goals and use University resources responsibly and efficiently.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Selected candidate will be required to pass a pre-employment criminal history background check.
• Selected candidate must pass the employment misconduct disclosure process.
• Must have the ability to: operate a vacuum, floor scrubber, and polisher; use cleaning chemical compounds; perform essential custodial duties including dumping bags into dumpster or moving equipment and materials with or without accommodations.
• Ability to ascend/descend ladders with or without accommodation.
• Ability to safely perform the physical requirements necessary to move light to moderate objects up to 60 lbs., with or without accommodation.
• The selected candidate will be required to work all scheduled hours on-site.
• Employees whose positions are designated as Category 1 or Category 2 for occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM) must receive the Hepatitis B vaccination or sign a Hepatitis B vaccination declination statement. Initial and annual Bloodborne Pathogens training is also required.
• Selected candidate will be required to complete training within established time frames as directed including UC compliance training.
• The University of California has implemented a Vaccination Policy covering all employees. Employees, including new hires, are required to comply with any applicable policies relating to the University of California vaccine program.

MISCONDUCT DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:
  • UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
  • UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
  • Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

All UCSC employees must understand and follow job safety procedures, attend required health and safety training, proactively promote safety at work, and promptly report actual and potential accidents and injuries.

This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the